History

Originally, the property this grand home resides on was purchased in 1901 by Wilbur Burlington, who, in 1903 sold it to Mathias Klein, who, during the same year sold it to Judge Marshall A. Spooner. Judge Spooner served Bemidji in his position until 1908 when C. W. Stanton was appointed to replace Judge Spooner. In 1907 the property was sold to Ole Anderson and his wife Clara. During the time Ole and Clara owned and resided on the property, they were also the owners of a saloon and restaurant located at 106 3rd Street in downtown Bemidji.

In May of 1918, Homer C. and Isabelle S. Baer purchased the property from Ole and Clara and resided in the home for many years after. Homer moved to Bemidji in 1910 to work at Security State Bank, and served as president until his death in 1951. Many of the descendants of Homer and Isabelle Baer still reside in the Bemidji area. Since the sale of the property in 1918, there have only been four previous owners to date.

Lake Bemidji Bed & Breakfast is nestled in the middle of a well-known historic district, an eight-block section of Lake Boulevard once known as Bemidji's "Gold Coast." As you walk along Lake Boulevard, you will enjoy viewing the Dr. and Mrs. Einer Johnson House built before 1910; they lived in this home for over 50 years.

The Bacon House was also built in 1910; Mr. and Mrs. Bacon never had children but lived in the house with their servants and dogs. In later years the Bacon House was purchased by the Catholic Church and became St. Mary's Convent.

The Fisk House is a unique log home, originally a homestead located on Grace Lake and reconstructed log-by-log on its present site. Judge Fisk, a municipal judge in Bemidji, entertained many distinguished guests including writer F. Scott Fitzgerald.

The Warfield House is a home built in 1912, once occupied by Mr. Andrew Warfield who built Bemidji's first electric light plant. The Warfield House was later owned by the Bemidji Hospital and used as a nurses' residence known as "Warfield Hall."

​The Parker & Mangelsdorf House is known for its large, informal gardens cared for by two female teachers, Mabel Parker and Ruth Mangelsdorf, when they resided there in the 1930s.

Restored in 1999, Lake Bemidji Bed & Breakfast is an approximately 3000-square-foot home in which innkeepers Dick and Jill Beardsley happily reside and welcome their guests.